How to Use an Eyelash Curler Correctly?

Use an eyelash curler on clean, dry, mascara-free lashes, clamping gently near the roots for 5–10 seconds.

Thinking you need a steady hand or special skill to curl lashes properly is the main reason most people give up on the tool. The actual technique is simple: position, clamp, hold, release. Done right, it opens up your eyes without pinching, pulling, or leaving a harsh right-angle bend in your lashes. The how-to below walks through the correct method, the mistakes that cause damage, and the small adjustments that change a basic curl into a wide-eyed one.

Step-By-Step: How To Curl Your Lashes

Using an eyelash curler the right way takes about thirty seconds once you know the sequence. Work through these steps in order, and check the success cue at the end so you know you’ve done it right.

1. Start with a clean, dry tool. Wipe the silicone pad and metal frame with eye makeup remover or soap and water, then let it dry completely. Residue transfers to your lashes and a damp pad grips and pulls instead of curling.
2. Open the curler wide and position it at the base of your upper lashes, as close to the roots as you can get without touching the eyelid skin. Tilt your chin up slightly and look straight into the mirror so you can see exactly where the pad lands.
3. Close gently. Squeeze the handles together slowly and confirm every lash sits inside the curve—none caught underneath or sticking out sideways. The clamp should feel snug but completely painless; if it pinches, open, adjust, and try again.
4. Hold for 5–10 seconds. A quick three-second clamp gives a soft lift, while a full ten seconds sets a stronger curve.
5. Pulse for more curl. Release slightly, shift the curler a few millimeters up the lash length toward the tips, and clamp again for a few seconds. Repeating base-to-tip in small increments builds a rounder, more natural arc than a single hard clamp.
6. Repeat on the other eye. With clean, dry lashes, open the curler and finish the second side. You’ll know it worked when your upper lashes sweep upward evenly with no kink or right-angle bend and your eyelid feels untouched.

Where Does The Curler Fit In Your Routine?

The curler always comes before mascara, and the order matters more than most people realize. Mascara makes lashes stiff and sticky, so clamping down on coated lashes can glue them to the pad and tug them out when you release.

The same logic applies to the rest of your routine. RMS Beauty specifies using the curler only once a day and before any other product touches your lashes. Curl on bare, clean lashes, then apply mascara. On the days you skip mascara entirely, the curl alone still frames your eyes. If your lashes are very straight, some beauty guides suggest warming the curler briefly with a hair dryer first—but that’s not in any manufacturer’s official instructions, and the burn risk with metal tools makes it a bad trade for most people. The safer route is simply holding the clamp for the full ten seconds.

Common Mistakes That Break Lashes

Most eyelash curler injuries aren’t accidents—they’re the result of one of four fixable errors. Pinching the eyelid happens when the curler sits too close to the skin, and it’s your signal to reposition immediately. Squeezing too hard is the other big one; lashes are fragile, and a heavy clamp can snap or permanently distort them. Pulling or dragging the curler while it’s closed does the same damage. And curling after mascara, as covered above, is the fastest way to lose lashes entirely.

A worn-out pad causes a subtler problem. Cracked, flattened, or uneven silicone pads create harsh dents in the middle of your lashes instead of a smooth curve. Check the pad regularly and replace the curler when it shows wear. The table below sums up the whole system.

Which Method And Hold Time Should You Trust?

Different brands give slightly different numbers, and it’s easy to overthink a difference of a few seconds. There’s no conflict here—shorter holds give a softer lift for natural looks, and longer holds set a stronger curl for stubborn lashes. Start at five seconds, check the result, and extend from there.

That three-position approach is the difference between a uniform C-curve and a single harsh bend, and it’s worth doing even when your lashes are already fairly cooperative.

If your current curler pinches no matter what you do, it may be the wrong shape for your eye. A flatter or more curved frame changes how the pad meets your lash line, and trying a different design often solves the problem instantly. Our roundup of budget eyelash curlers that actually work covers the designs best suited to different eye shapes.